MANHATTAN — Senior day for a Kansas State football player is worth timing.

Invariably, the Wildcats introduce 20 or more upperclassmen with varying backgrounds — recruits, grayshirts, transfers and walk-ons. All bonded in the same purple uniform.

Each outgoing Wildcat hugs Bill Snyder, receives a few thankful remarks from the coach, hears an ovation as he trots on to the field, then joins family as the processional stretches down the west hashmarks of Snyder Family Stadium.

Rarely does the process take even four minutes. Swift and to the point. No speeches, no flower petals and few tears.

There is a football game to be played, and usually a lot is riding on the outcome.

Some squad members will not participate on that particular Saturday but will leave with degrees. Another group of serviceable players will play a handful of snaps. Others will start and play meaningful roles. Then there are the select few who happen to be outright stars.

Tyler Lockett returns as a certifiable star for K-State next season. A dazzling wide receiver and kick returner, Lockett will be introduced to a thunderous roar when the season starts and will elicit many additional cheers with his own exploits.

He may just be the top recruit in Kansas State’s 2014 class.

Yes, 2014. By retaining Lockett rather than seeing him bolt early for the NFL, the Wildcats possess one of the top playmakers in the country.

As a wideout, Lockett crosses up defenders with cunning footwork breaking into his pattern. He runs routes with crisp precision. He snags passes with sure hands. He darts into the clear with both separation and speed.

In addition, he happens to burn opponents as a kick returner.

Lockett is a pro. Just not now.

After last season, projections didn’t match the potential. Most NFL draft analysis had Lockett going in the fourth round.

Why? Well, he has been slowed by a couple of injuries, which forced him to miss games as a freshman and junior, and also required an offseason procedure this year, which could limit his participation Saturday in the Purple-White game.

There is some concern over his size, too, with Lockett listed at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds. Still, those are elements that will factor into assessments even after he plays his last game for K-State. As a senior.

Lockett’s upside rivals that of Tavon Austin, the all-purpose threat who was 5-8, 176 coming out of West Virginia. Austin was drafted eighth overall in the 2013 draft by the St. Louis Rams. A gifted receiver, returner and rusher, Austin logged four seasons with the Mountaineers developing his skills.

Lockett will stay at K-State that long too following some discussion regarding his future.

“His dad and I had some dialogue about it. His dad said he’d like to see what the NFL thinks of him,’’ said Snyder, referring to Kevin Lockett, who went on to play wideout himself after starring for K-State.

“But Tyler is going to stay. We went through that process, but the NFL won’t tell you what your plusses and minuses are. They’ll just give you a guesstimate on where you might fit in the draft. And it’s just ‘where you might,’ so I think after you get the first 10, 15 choices, it’s hit-or-miss anyway.’’

The Wildcats did not miss when they signed Lockett as a legacy recruit. They certainly did not take a hit, either, with him staying for his senior year and completing his own blockbuster career. He needs 838 receiving yards, 75 receptions and nine touchdowns to break three school records held by his father (3,033 yards off 218 receptions, with 27 TDs).

“He wanted to stay, get his degree and enjoy his senior year with the team,’’ Kevin said. “We just did more of an inquiry to see what (NFL scouts) thought of him, but he never had any intentions of leaving and wanted to come back for his senior year.’’

Lockett is a humble yet confident kid. No doubt, he realized the positives to spending another year in college, both to grow his game, and thus his draft stock, and further his education.

Oh, but is Lockett advanced at the college level.

Just recall something he said after being named the offensive MVP of the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, where he grabbed three touchdowns, all in the first half, among 10 catches as K-State shelled Michigan last December.

“I think the thing about (playing receiver) is you’ve got to watch film,’’ Lockett said. “That’s something coach Snyder always emphasizes. You have to actually know what you are watching.

“Sometimes people watch film to watch film. I kind of learned that you want to watch film against your opponent, look at the person that is going to guard you, see their technique. … It makes things a whole lot easier, because the game doesn’t go as fast when you understand everything that’s going on with it.’’

The college game could very well come quite easily to Lockett as a senior. It did often enough last season. So much, you couldn’t help but project his qualities to the next level in case he turned pro.

The fact he stayed at K-State will not lengthen the senior day ceremony by much, but will make it even more special.

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